Peoria Police Department's Armadillo gets rave reviews

Ryan Ori

Monday

Jul 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMJul 27, 2009 at 1:16 AM

Whether it's in his role as a landlord, as a property manager or as a West Bluff resident, Dale Hanssen's feelings about the Peoria Police Department's Armadillo vehicle are the same: amused and grateful.

Whether it's in his role as a landlord, as a property manager or as a West Bluff resident, Dale Hanssen's feelings about the Peoria Police Department's Armadillo vehicle are the same: amused and grateful.

The department's nuisance property surveillance vehicle, known as the Armadillo because of its hardened, reinforced exterior, has been deployed to trouble residences since July 2008.

Hanssen has watched the Armadillo calm down a hot spot at one of his rental properties and also at an Orchard District property near his home on Flora Avenue.

"I think there's a psychological impact of (law breakers) realizing all the problems they are causing are being noticed by a lot of people," Hanssen said. "You drive by and it's so blatantly obvious why it's parked there. It says 'nuisance vehicle' right on the side. It kind of makes you smile."

Peorians aren't the only ones who have noticed the converted Brinks truck, believed to be the only police vehicle of its kind.

The Peoria Police Department is one of 25 worldwide semifinalists for the 2009 Webber Seavey Award, presented by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The 10 finalists will be announced Wednesday.

For Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard, this is only the beginning. As soon as the department can get its hands on another used Brinks truck, it will be retrofitted to become the Armadillo 2.

"We want to go ahead with a second one," Settingsgaard said. "We'd love to have more than two. Citizens want to see it on the streets."

Originally, Peoria police put an old, unoccupied squad car in front of a drug dealer's home on Madison Avenue. The car was quickly destroyed by an unknown person or group of people.

"The neighbors watched a police car being towed away in shambles," Settingsgaard said. "But we saw that it bothered him enough that he took the risk to go out and destroy it. In that regard, it was a success."

The Armadillo has bulletproof windows, reinforced steel, foam-filled tires, coverings for all the lights, and locks on the hood and gas tank. Several cameras facing out of the vehicle record video, which goes onto hard drives that can be taken back to the police station and viewed.

"We get 24/7 police presence at a location while committing no manpower to it," Settingsgaard said.

Glitches with the batteries, which need to be recharged back at the station every few days, have been addressed by local company Firefly Energy. Because foam in the tires can become flammable at higher speeds, the Armadillo lumbers along at speeds no higher than 35 mph.

Thousands of dollars spent outfitting the truck came from asset forfeitures.

"Essentially, that means the drug dealers are paying for it," Settingsgaard said.

Nuisance abatement officer Beth Hermacinski is keeper of the Armadillo. She works with individual residents and neighborhood associations.

The vehicle's arrival causes quite a stir, she said.

"For the most part, neighbors are applauding and waving when I drive up," Hermacinski said. "It's only the bad guys who don't like it."

Hanssen owns Principle Property Management, which manages about 120 properties, about 50 of which he owns. He witnessed the vehicle's arrival at an out-of-control house in his neighborhood.

"When the Armadillo pulled up to the home on Columbia Terrace, I wish I had my camera to capture the look on the faces of the three guys on the porch," Hanssen said. "It was total disbelief on their faces.

"One of the neighbors said it was the quietest weekend they could remember."

Hermacinski admits many improvements are temporary. After a few days, the Armadillo is on to the next location on an extensive list.

"We're not using the Armadillo as an end-all," she said. "It's not a perfect tool. It's not going to fix every problem."

Bill Ordaz, president of the Detweiller Marina Neighborhood Association, said there is some shame associated with requesting the Armadillo.

"It's not good for people outside the neighborhood to come through and see it parked there," Ordaz said. "Then the perception is bad house, bad neighborhood, bad area. It's almost embarrassing to think, 'My neighborhood needs the Armadillo.' It's a bit like showing your dirty laundry.

"But it's good that it draws attention to people in an unfavorable light. I see it as a negative, immediate consequence of bad behavior."

Sharon Draper lives on Flora Avenue, which had a three-day Armadillo visit last week. She said the targeted home went from nonstop traffic, apparently related to drugs, to complete calm while the Armadillo's cameras rolled.

Draper, who is vice president of the Altamont Neighborhood Association and also heads up its Neighborhood Watch program, also sees it as an unfortunate last resort. She hopes methods such as the Armadillo will gradually wear down troublesome residents.

"It makes people aware that the neighbors are watching and that we are reporting things," Draper said. "I'm hoping the people will realize they can take their drug dealing elsewhere, because we're not going to tolerate it. I received e-mails and calls from neighbors who were pleased that the Armadillo was here."

Ryan Ori can be reached at (309) 686-3264 or rori@pjstar.com.

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